Snap fastener carding machine



Nov. 13, 1951 M. KIESSLING 2,575,019

SNAP FASTENER CARDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1948 1Q Sheets-Sheet l mo NH INVENTOR.

MHX K/ESSL/NG BY FITTORNEY 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. KIESSLING SNAP FASTENERCARDING MACHINE Nov; 13, 1951 Filed Feb. 5, 1948 INVENTOR MHX K/ESSL/NGff'fi ATTORNEY Nov. 13, 1951 M. KIESSLING SNAP FASTENER CARDING MACHINE1O Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 5, 1948 INVENTOR MHX Kl-ESSL/NG ATTORNEYNov. 13, 1951 M. KIESSLING I ,0

SNAP FASTENER CARDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ml-7XK/ESSL/NG kmim? A'TTORNEY Nov. 13, 1951 Filed Feb. 5, 194.8

ZIS

10 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. MHX K/ESSL/NG ZIO FITTORNEY Nov. 13, 195] KlssLme 2,575,019

SNAP FASTENER CARDING MACHINE INVENTOR. H 5 2 MHX K-IESSL/NG H TTORNE YNov. 13, 195] M. KIESSLING "2,575,019

SNAP FASTENER CARDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet a ZllINVENTOR. MHX K/ESSL/NG FITTORNE Y Nov. 13, 1951 M. KIESSLING 2,575,019

SNAP FASTENER CARDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 MFl XK/ESSL/NG FITTORNEY Nov. 13, 1951 M. KIESSLING 2,575,019

SNAP FASTENER CARDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 10HTTORNEY from the left mpi s ancie.

Patented Nov. 13, 1951 UNITED STAT SNAP FASTENER' CARDING MACHINE s. vMazr Kie'ssli ng, Waterbury, C onn. a'ss'ignor' it The American;Fastener 'company,'-Water ur "Conn'.','a corporation of Connecticut I nApplicationFebruary 5, 1948, Serial N o. .6,4.64 H i 1 This inventionrelates to machinesfor applying snap fasteners to cards, and moreparticularly to a machine for automatically assembling male and femalesnap fastener sections with the cards upon which the fasteners are tobedisplayedand sold.

This machine is constructed for use with fasteners of the type havingtwo complementary sections, each of which has the shapeof .a disk with acentral projection, the projection of one section being adapted to snapwithin the projection of the other section, wherein it will be held bythe resilient action of .the latter, v

It is customary to apply snap fastener to perforated display cardsbyassembling or closing the respective fastener sections in such amanner that the card is confined betweenth ernl Here'tofore thisoperation has been done by hand, with the result that it was slow,tedious,and so expensive'that it representeda substantial part of thecost of the product. V

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a machine of theabove nature which includes mechanism for automatically applying apredetermined number ofxsnap fasteners to each display card. 7 n

Another object is to provide a device of the above nature which includesmeans forclosing a successionof the snap fasteners at a fixed locationinthe machine, and means for rotating the display card so that a circularseries of fasteners will be applied thereto. f V

Another object is to provide a; devic of the above nature having meansfor automatically stopping the machine and releasing'the display cardafter the card has received the predetermined number of fasteners.

' A further object is to provide a machine'of the above nature whichwill be relatively simple in construction, inexpensive'to manufacture,easy to install and manipulate, compact, and very efficient and durablein use.

With these and other objects in view, there has been illustrated on theaccompanying drawing one form in which the invention may conveniently beembodied in practice.

The male fastener sections will be referred to hereinafter as studs, andthe female fastener sections will be referred to as springs-thesebeingthe terms commonly used in the'trade; I

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a front elevationof the same.

Fig. 3 is an end View of:..t he machine looking ea me 1 [Fig it aims;sectional view on the use 4+4 of, Fig. ,1, looking the direction of thearrows.

with the displaycardshown in broken lines. Fig .25; fa cross sectionalview, on the broken line sfsorFigilqf f Fig fiiis a cross sectionalview,on the line 66 of Fig. 1, showing the spring feed'an'd'the spring slide,the latter'being in withdrawn position.

Figf'l is a cross sectional view on the broken line T-l .-of Fig. 1behind the card, showing the stud -esiape and feed, 1 the feedlslidebeing in withdrawn position."

is a cross ctional view on an enlarged scale, on the line 8 of Fig.1,showing the snap fastener closing niechahisma'fthe card holder, a

card therein, and a'stud and a spring at opposite sides thereof.

Fig. 9 1s a cross sectional View, showing afportion of Fig. 6 onan-enlarged scale, the spring feed. slide being in its advancedposition.

Fig. 10 is'a cross sectional view, showing a portion of Fig.7 on anenlarged scaleybut showing the studfe'ed slide in itsa'dvanced position,and the escape member in open position. Fig. ll'is acrossjsectionalview,'on' an enlarged scale, taken'bn a'portio'n of the line 88 of Fig.l,

f with the stud jand'spring members, in position readytobeclosed uponthe'card' V Fig. 1 2 is' a view similar t'oFig. 11,"but showing the studand spring members assembled upon thecard. I

Fig. 13"is"afplan view "of a rectangular display card upon which a pairof snap fasteners have been attachedl." I

Fig. 14 ,is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar. "to Figs. 11 and12, taken alongjthe line Bf- 18 of Fig. "1, with the stud and springcarriers infaipartially retracted: position, ready to permit I removalof the display card;

Fig. 15 is a horizontal cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale;looking downwardly on the In line |5+-I 5 of Fig. 6, showingboth studand spring carriers in fully retracted position.

. Fig. 16fis1a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken ontheline l6 'l6"of Fig. '7; showing the stud escape mechanism in openposition.

,Fig'. l'l is a cross-sectional view taken on the i 1m'ej|1 n of Fig.10, showing the stud escape mechanism in closed position. 7 e Fig. 18 isa cross sectiona'l View, similar to Fig. 15, taken on the line l8,l 8 ofFigs. 9 and 10, but

. showing the stud and spring carriers at the instant of engaging astud'and aspring advanced by the stud feed slide and the spring feedslide. Fig. 19 is a detail view of a portion of Fig. -9,

showing the spring feed slide and magazine, but with the spring slide ina partly withdrawn position.

Fig. 20 is a detail view of the stud magazine and feed mechanism,similar to Figs. 7 and 10, but showing the stud feed slide in a partlywithdrawn position.

Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional 'view on the line 2l2l 'of Fig. 19, showingthe appearance of a spring located on the spring carrier preparatory tothe final closing movement.

Fig. 22 is a sectional view, substantially on the line 22-22 of Fig. 20,showing the appearance of a stud located on the stud carrier,preparatory to the final closing movement.

Referring now to the drawings inwhich like reference numerals denotecorresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral Illindicates a rectangular machine bed having a leIt hand rectangularpedestal base II, and a right hand rectangular pedestal base l2, securedin spaced relation upon the front portion of said bed by means of bolts13. The left hand pedestal base II is provided with a pair of spacedupstanding pedestals I4, 15, and the pedestal base I2 1s provided,w1th apair of spaced upstanding pedestals l6, l1, all of said pedestals beingdisposed in alignment across the front portion of the bed 16.

The pedestals l4, 15 are provided with aligned horizontal bearings I8,19 (Fig. 2) rotatably supporting a card holder shaft 26, and thepedestals l6, [1 are provided with aligned bearings 2|, 22rotatablysupporting a clamping plate shaft 23, whereby said shafts 20and 23 are supported in coaxial relation with their inner ends disposedin the space between the pedestals l5, l6.

Card holder A card holder 24 is secured on the inner end of the shaft 20by means of a central hub 25 on the back of the holder, and a set screw26 in said hub. The card holder 24 is adapted to support a display cardC (Fig. 13), in a vertical plane between the pedestals 15, I6, in such amanner that a circular series of perforations P in the "card C will beheld in coaxial relation with the card holder shaft 20. In order to holdthe card accurately in position, the holder 24 has a flat face 21, sidewalls 28 and 29 adapted to confine the side edges of the card C, and anend wall 30 (Fig. 6) which holds an adjustable abutment 3| for locatingone end of the card C;

The display card C will be clamped against the fiat face 21 of the cardholder 24 by means of a fiat clamping plate 32 secured on the inner endof the clamping plate shaft 23 by means of a central hub 33 upon itsrear face, and a set screw 34 in said hub.

The clamping plate shaft 23 and the clamping 'plate 32 thereon areadapted to have limited longitudinal movement in order to clamp orrelease the card C within the holder 24. Means to be describedhereinafter is provided for accomplishing this movement.

The card holder 24 and the clamping plate 32 are each provided with acircular series of apertures 35, 36, respectively, which are best seenin Figs. 6 and 8. These apertures 35, 36 will be disposed in alignmentwith the perforations P of a card in the holder 24, and will be broughtsuccessively into alignment with a stud carrier 31 and a spring carrier38, as the card holder 24 is rotated, so as to permit application ofstuds D and springs S to said perforations;

4 It will be seen by reference to Figs. 13 and 14 that the studs D andthe springs S will be snapped together or closed from opposite sides ofthe card C to form complete fasteners F, the stud D of each fastenerbeing disposed in one of the perforations P.

A step-by-step rotating motion is imparted to the card holder 24 bymeans of a ratchet wheel 39 secured upon the outer end of the cardholder shaft 20 and having teeth 4!! equal in number to the perforationsP in the card C.

Thus, as the card is rotated in the holder 24, each of the perforationsP will be brought in turn to a position between the stud carrier 31 andthe spring carrier 38, whereby the fasteners may ,The machine bed l0 isprovided with a slot 41 .in' order to provide clearance for rotation ofthe card holder 24.

,In order to drive the ratchet wheel 39 and other mechanisms ofthemachinaprovision is made of a main drive shaft 42 mounted in alateral position upon the rear portion of the bed Ill by means offlanged bearing blocks 43, 44

"secured by bolts 45, 46. 7 The drive shaft 42 is retained in thebearing blocks 43, 44, by means of bearing caps 41, 48 which are securedby bolts 49.

A driving connection between the drive shaft 42 and theratchet wheel 39is established by means of a crank'56 on the shaft 42', a connecting rod5| secured to the crank, a lever 52 swingably carried upon the cardholder shaft 29 outwardly of the ratchet wheel 39, and a pawl 53 whichengages the teeth 40 of the ratchet wheel. Thus, rotation of the driveshaft will cause the ratchet wheel to be advanced intermittently.

In order to prevent the card holder 24 from turning too far at the endof each advancing movement, a pair of friction members 54, 55 engage theshaft 20 between the pedestals I4, I5. A clamping screw 56 is providedwhereby the friction members 54, 55 may be adjusted to exert the desiredbraking action upon the shaft 29. The friction members 54, 55 are heldin place by means of a flange 51 which is formed on the member 54 andsecured to the upper surface of the pedestal base H by means of a bolt58.

Thus, the rotation of the card holder 24 will be accurately controlledso that the perforations P of the card C in the holder 24 will bestopped exactly in line with the stud carrier 31 and the spring carrier38.

Driving and clutch mechanism The main drive shaft 42 will be rotatedcontinuously during thefapplication of the snap fasteners F to a card,so that the fasteners w'ill be applied successively until the card C hasmade one complete revolution and all of the perforations P therein havereceived fasteners. The drive shaft 42 willthen be automaticallystopped.

This feature of the operation is accomplished by means, best seen inFigs. 1, 2 and 4, which includes a fly wheel 591 loosely retained uponthe right-hand end of thedrive shaft 42 by means of a collar 60, andengaged by a belt 6| which is constantly driven by any suitable sourceof power. A releasable driving connection is provided between the flywheel 59 and the drive shaft 42 in the form of a clutch indicatedgenerally as '62. The clutch 62 comprises a cylindrical body 63 havingan inner longitudinal aperture 64 which carries a bolt 65 adapted toenaw-sore 'Thebolt 65 is normally spring pressed into engagement withthe slot 66, but is provided with a head 6'! which'is engageable by aclutch arm 68, whereby it may be withdrawnfrom said slot 66. e r

The clutch arm 68 is carried on a bracket 69 at the rear of the bed'bymeans of a pivot pin I8, and is provided with-a curved front end portionII which conforms to the curvature of a reduced section I2 of the clutchbody 63. The arm 68 is normally urged upwardlyagainst the reducedsection 12 by means of a coiled spring I3, whereby an inclined camsurface 14 on the end portion II of the clutch armwill engage behind thebolt head 61 as it rotates with'the body 63, to withdraw the bolt 65from the slot 66. A lateral stepped abutment .15 is also -provided onthe arm 68, which is adapted to engage thehead 61 of the bolt 65 duringrotation of the shaft 42 in order to bring said shaft to a; positivestop.- a i In order to release the bolt 65 so as to reengage the clutch,provisionis made of a clutch trip rod 16 (Figs. 2 and 4) which isconnected to a -central portion-ofzthe-clutcharm 68 by means -of.a pin11 and is vertically slidable ina guide I8 on the machine bed I8. A linkI8 is provided for'connecting the clutch trip rod 16 to any suitableactuating-means, so that the trip rod .16 may be moved downwardly toswing the clutch arm 68 and thereby permit the bolt 65 to enter :theslot 66 and start the machine, whenever desired bythe operator. 1 e

. Tripping of the: rod I6 will initiate a machine 1 cycle during whichthe drive shaft 42 will make --a predetermined .number of revolutions,whereupon the clutch will automatically be thrown out of engagement.

.In order to accomplish this, provision is made of meansincluding .a cam88 which ds secured to the'main drive shaft 42 inwardly of .the bear--ing block.44,;and;adapted to depressa lever 8| once in each revolutionof the shaft 42 by means of 'a cam follower 82 on said lever. The lever8I is pivotally mounted in a block 83 secured to the rear edge of thebed-I8, and is connected at its frontendtoacoiled spring 84 supported bya bracket-85 held underthelhead :of. one of the ,;bearingcap bolts 49,so that the follower 82 will be--.-maintained: against" the peripheral 1surface of the cam 88. M Thezlever BI is: operatively connected to aratchet wheel 86, which is secured upon the inner end of a horizontalcontrol shaft 81 in a bearing block .88 on the bed I8,-by meansofa link89, a ratchet lever 98, and a pawl 8I. The teeth of the ratchet wheel 86are equal in number to the teeth of the ratchet wheel 38 on the cardholder shaft. 28, and to the numberof perforations P I in the displaycard C.

The outer end of the control shaft 81 is provided with a control disk82' (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) having a cam projection 93 on its innerface. for

. a purpose to be described hereinafter. The .outer face of thecontroldisk 92 has an eccentric clutch release pin 84 adapted to engage a camnose 95 on the forward end of a clutch release lever86, which is pivotedon the side of the machine bed I8 by means of a stud 81. The re leaselever 86 has a tapered rear end 98 which is adapted to engage in a notch98 in the clutch trip rod 16 so as to hold said rod in a depressedposition, However, it will be seen that when .the ratchet wheel 86 (andconcurrently, the card QC) has-made one complete revolution,--therelease pin- 94 will strike the cam nose 95, whereby the rear end 98 ofthe release lever 96 will be disengaged from the trip. rod 16 to permitthe clutch arm 68 to swing upwardly and thereby disengage the clutch andstop the machine. .The rear end 98 of the lever 86 will be urged againstthe trip rod 16 by means of a coiled'spring I88 connected to the releaselever 88, so that tripping of the rod 16 will cause the end 88 to engagein the notch 88 and thereby maintain the machine in operation until therelease lever 86 is engaged by the release pin 94. 9

Card clamping mechanism In order to release the clamping plate 32 from acard C in the holder 24 at the end of one revolution of the card,provision is made of means including a cam piece I8I which is secured tothe side of the cam 88. The cam piece IN is engageable with a followerI82 upon the rear arm of a bell-crank release lever I83 which isswingably mounted under the head of the bearing block mounting bolt 46.The forward arm of the bellcrank lever I82 has a depending pin I84engageable with the rear 'end'of an offset lever I85. The

offset lever I85 is pivoted ona stud I86 upstanding on the pedestal baseI2, and is provided adjacent the pin I84 with an inclined end surf-aceI81 having a rounded recess I88 at its high point. The inclined endsurface I81 and the recess, I88 are engaged by a slidable detentl88which is carried in a tubular guide II8 upon the control shaft bearingblock 88 and pressed outwardly by a coiled spring II I so as to maintainthe rear arm of the offset lever I85 selectively in different positions.

The other end of the offset lever I85 is in the form of a yoke I I2engaged in an annular groove H3 in the outer end of the clamping plateshaft 23. The offsetlever I85 will normally be urged in a clockwisedirection by a coil spring H4, so that the clamping plate shaft 23 andthe clamping plate 32 thereon will clamp the card C firmly 1 in the cardholder 24.

7 However, provision is made of a nose II5 so disposed upon the outerside of the rear arm-of the offset lever I85 that it will lie in thepa'thof the cam projection 83 of the control disk 92 when the clampingplate 32 is in its clamping position. Thus, when the card C, andconsequently, the 'disk82 have made one complete revolution, the camprojection 93 will engage the nose '5 to move the offset lever I85 in acounterclockwise direction, whereupon the detent I88 will engage in therecess I88 to hold the clamping'plate 32 V in its released position asseen in Figs. 1, 2, and 8. The parts will remain in this position untilthe machine is again started by the operator, whereupon the cam piece I8| will actuate the bellcrank release lever I83 to release the offsetlever I85 from the detent I89, so that the plate 32 will again clamp acard in the card holder 24.

It will be noted that the release lever I83 will be in an inactivecondition excepting duringthe first revolution of the drive shaft 42which occurs after the rod I6 is tripped.

Stud and spring feed In order to supply the snap fastener studs D andsprings S to the machine, provision is made -ofa vertical stud magazineH6 and a vertical spring magazine I I I, whichare best seen in Figs.

The-stud and spring magazines II6, I'I'Ifcom- +prise, respectively;chut'e members-H8-and'*"I'l9 having guide channels. I28,I 2-Ij and pairsofretaining strips I22, I23 secured by screws I24 1nlongitudinal'positions overhanging the channels I20,I2I.v p

In order to support the magazines I I6, I I1 and other relatedmechanisms, mounting blocks I25,

I26 are secured to the upper inner corner portions of the pedestal I5,and a pair of mounting blocks I21, I28 are secured upon the upper innercorner portions of thepedestal I6 (Figs. 2, 9, 10, andl8). i

The blocks I25, I26, I21; I28 are formed with notches I29 in their lowerinner corners (Fig. 18) so that the blocks will seat firmly upon thepedestals and are secured thereon by means of screws I30 (Fig. 2). Thestud and spring magazines I I6, I'I1 are secured respectively in arecess I3I in the mounting block I255 (Fig. and in .a recess I-32 in themounting block I28 (Figs. 8 and 9);, by

means of screws I33, I34, so as to be flush with the inner faces of themounting blocks. a

The lower end of the stud magazine I I6 is seated upon the upper surfaceof a stud feed indicated generally as I35, which is secured in slotsI36, I31 in the outer faces of the mounting blocks I25, I26 (Figs. 10,11, 12).

The stud feed I35 comprises a bar I38 (Figs. 10, 11, 18) having'ahorizontal stud channel I39 in its front face, and an entrance slot I49(Fig. 10) which is aligned with the channel I28 of the stud magazine soas to permit passage of the studs downwardly from the magazine I I6 intothe stud channel I39.

The stud channel I39 contains a feed slide I4I extending inwardly fromits front end, said slide I46 adjacent the card holder 24 having a chan-V neled rearward portion I61 to permit the operation of a stud stripperI48, to be further described hereinafter.

The feed slide MI is reciprocated by means of an, operating slide I49which is disposed in a channel I56 upon the rear face of the bar I38,and connected to the front end of the feed slide MI by means of a screw[5| and a filler piece I52. The operating slide I49 is operated from themain drive shaft 42 by means of a cam I53 on said shaft 42 (Figs. '7 and10). A follower I54 is held against the periphery of the cam I53 by anarm I55, which is swingably carried in a block "I56 on the machine bedi0 and urged rearwardly by means of a spring I 51 held by a rod I58which is supported at the rear edge of the bed I6. The arm I55 isconnected to the operating slide I49 by means of a link I59 and a pivotpin I60 (Figs. 7,

' l0, and

I68 are attached, in positions directed toward ,movement of the slidesI61, I68.

each; other, -by means of screws I69. The slides I61, I68'are. slidableacross the, face of the chute memberv I,I8, in channels; in therbacks ofthe retaining strips I22, I 7

The retaining slide I61 has a rearwardly-inclined ,endsurfaceI1.0,(Figs. 10 and 20) and the inner end .of the, escape slide I68 has afinger III of ;reduced; width, thereby forming a slot I12 which willpermit the downward escape of one stud Din the channel I20 at eachreciprocating Provision, is made of a pair 'of projecting pins I13,.I14. upon the enlarged forward end I of the operating slide I62 and uponthe guide I63, respectively, for mounting a coiled spring I15 wherebythe escape mechanism will be urged rearwardly (to the right in Fig. 16).

In order to slide the escape mechanism forwardly so as torelease thestuds D at the desired intervals, provision is made of a link I16pivotally connecting the rear end of the escape operating slide- I62with the upper end of an escape lever pends in-the path of an abutmentroller I carried by the pivot pin. I68 of the stud feed operating slideI49 (Fig. 10)..- Thus, the link I59 of the stud feed operating mechanismwill serve to operate both the stud feed and the stud escape mechanisms.

Thelower end of the spring magazine H1 is seated upon the upper surfaceof a spring feed I8I (Figs. 9, 11, 18) which is secured in. slots I82and I83 in the outer faces of the mounting blocks I21, I28,respectively. The spring feed I8! comprisesan inner coveryplate I84 anda bar I85 formed with a horizontal spring channel I86 in its inner face,.and a vertical entrance slotI 81 (Figs. 9, 19) in alignment with theide channel I2I of the spring'magazine II1, whereby the springs may befed from the magazine into the spring channel I86.

A spring feed slide I88 is guided in the channel I86- and is'providedwith a stepped forward end I89 which serves as a backingfiange for thesprings S. The forward end of the spring channel I86 is provided with afiller block I90, which serves as an abutment to limit the forwardmovement of the springs S, as they are fed forwardly one-byone by thespring feed slide I88.

The spring feed I8I' is provided with an outer cover plate I96awhich'ischannelled on its inner face topermit the. operation of a springstripper the lower arm of the bell-crank lever I93.

. I901) to be further. described. hereinafter.

The'spring feed slide I88 is operated from the main drive shaft 42 bymeans of a cam I 9I (Figs. 1 and 6). A follower 192 is mounted upon abell- ;crank lever I93 swingably carried on a block I94 on the bed I8,and is held against the cam I9I by means of a spring I95 (Figs. 1 and6), which is carried upon a bracket I96 upon the machine bed I6, andvconnected to anear I91 on the end of The spring feed slide I88 and theupper arm of the bell crank lever I93 are connected by means of a linkI98 and pivot pins I99, 200'.

The stud feed I35 and the spring feed I8I' are apertured in order topermit operation of the stud carrier 31 and the spring carrier 38therethrough, whereby the studs D and the spring 5 may be applied tothedisplay cards C.

It will benoted that the, operating slide I49 of thestud feed I35 isprovided with an oblong aperture 20.I (Fig. 18) so that it mayreciprocate without causing any interference with the stud carrier 31.

Fastener closing mechanism The stud carrier 31 comprises a rod section202 (Fig. 14) mounted in the end of a square reciprocating stud closingslide 203 and has a split resilient mandrel 204 projecting from itsouter end which is adapted to fit resiliently within the projections ofeach stud D, whereby the studs D may be retained thereon and carriedforwardly into engagement with the card 0.

Similarly, the spring carrier 38 comprises a hollow rod section 205mounted in the end of a square reciprocating spring closing slide 206.The hollow rod section 205 embraces an inner rod section 201 (Fig. 14)which projects outwardly of the end of the hollow rod section 205 in theform of a reduced split resilient hollow end 208, thereby forming aspring chuck 209 which is adapted to resiliently engage over the centerprojections of the springs S so as to carry them forward into engagementwith the card C. I

The stud closing slide 203 is guided in slots 210, 211, respectively, inthe upper ends of the pedestals 14, 15, and the spring closing slide 206is guided in slots 212, 213, respectively, in the upper ends of thepedestals 16, 11. The stud-and spring closing slides 203, 204 are thussupported in horizontal aligned relation for sliding toward and way fromeach other and are retained in their respective slots by means ofcapplates 214 and screws 215.

The closing slides 203, 204 and the stud and spring carriers 31, 38thereon are operated from the main drive shaft 42 by means of;cams 216,211 secured on the shaft 42, and having cam;

pieces 218, 219-secured to their sides, whereby they are rendereddouble-acting (Figs. 1, 5, '1). Provision is made of a pair ofbell-crank levers 220, 221, which are swingably mounted on blocks 222,223, respectively, on the machinebed 10. The bell-crank levers 220, 221are provided with cam followers 224, 225, respectively, which areadapted to engage with the cams 216, 211, and offset lower arms 226, 221carrying cam followers 228, 229, which are adapted to engage with thecam pieces 218, 219.

The upper ends of the bell-crank levers 220, 221 are connected by meansof universally pivoted lugs 230, 231, respectively, and links 232, 233to one end of respective bell crank, levers; 234, 235 swingable onvertical studs 236, 231 which are supported on the rear portions of theleft hand pedestal base 11 and the right hand pedestal base 12 bybrackets 238, 239. The forward ends of the bell-crank levers 234, 235are connected to the stud closing slide 203,and the spring closing slide206 between the respective pedestals by means of screw studs 240, 241(Fig. 8).

The stud and spring closing slides 203 and 206 are urged toward thecenter of the machine by 'coiled springs 242, 243 which are connected tothe outer ends thereof by means of upstand ing pins 244, 245 (Fig. 2)and secured at their inner ends upon stationary pins 246, 241 secured onthe inner cap plates 214.

The springclosing slide 206 is provided with an outer extension 248(Figs. 1 and 2) towhich is secured a rearwardly-extending horizontal arm249, which carries an adjustable screw 250, provided with a lock nut 251The'end of the, screw 250 is adapted to abut the outer surface of. thepedestal 11 in order to limit the closing movement of the slide 206 andthe spring carrier 242, 243, the precise location of the final clos-,

ing operation will be determined by the contact of the adjustable stopscrew 250 with the pedestal 11.

It will be noted that the cam pieces 218 219 will engage the followers228, 229 during a relatively short interval at the beginning of theclosing movement of the carriers 31, 38 whereby said closing movementwill be positively initiated. However, the final force of the fastenerclosing operation will be exerted solely by the closing slide springs242, 243. and spring carriers 31, 38 will be withdrawn by the action ofthe cams 216, 211 upon the followers 224, 225.

In connection with the closing operation, it will be noted from anobservation of the cams 216, 211 in Figs. 5 and '7, that the followers224, 225 will at first be permitted a small inward movement prior to theclosing movement which is initiated by the cam pieces 218,219, wherebythe spring mandrel 204 and thespring chuck 209 (Figs. 8 and 14) willengage with the stud D and the spring S, respectively, while they arestill held by the stud feed slide 141 and the spring feed slide 188 asshown in Fig. 18. The cams 216, 211 are shaped so that theywill thenprovide a dwell, or even permit aslight reverse movement, wherebywithdrawal of the feed slides 141, 188 will be permitted, after whichthe carriers 31, 38 will be fully advanced to closing position by theaction ofthe'cam pieces 218,219, and the closing springs 242, 243.

Stripper mechanism The stud and spring strippers 148 and 1902)} from themain drive shaft 42 by means of an arm 254 (Figs. 1 and 6) which isswingably mounted in a bracket 255 upon the machine bed 10, and carriesa follower 256 on the shaft 42.

The strippers 148, 1901) are" connected for simultaneous operation bymeans of a stud 258- (Figs. '1 and 8) and a link 259 connects said stud258 with the arm 254. A coiled spring 260 is provided which is connectedbetween the stud:

258 and an elongated projecting screw 261 (Fig.

1) carried by the spring magazine 111, whereby.

the follower 256 will be maintained in operative engagement with theperiphery of the cam 251.

Operation In operation, the'stud magazine 116 will be filled with studsD, and the spring magazine 1 11 will be filled with springs S, and theoperator'will insert a display card "C in the "card holder 24 in" such aposition, determined by adjustment of the stop 31, that the perforationsP of the card will be in alignment with the apertures 35, 36 of the cardholder 24 and shown in Fig. 8.

The clutch rod 16 will then be tripped so as to The stud engaged with acam'251f' f the clamping plate 32, as

swing the clutch arm 68" downwardly aboutthe V pivot pin I0, (Figs. 1,2, and 4) to pull it 'out'of contact with the head 57 f the bolt 65,thus permitting the spring-urged bolt 85 to enterthe slot 66 in the hubof the fiywheel"59; -Inasmuch as the bolt 65 is held in'the inneraperture of the clutch body 63, the drive shaft 42 Willbe rotated by theconstantly rotating flywheel '59 aslong'as said bolt is engaged in theslot 56. The trip rod'IS will be-maintained in its tripped position byvirtue of the engagement ofthe rear end98 of the clutch'release lever96in the notch 99 of the trip rod I6 (Fig. 4) I This will cause thecrank 50 to reciprocate the connecting rod 5I (Figs; land 2) and thepawl 53 so that the ratchet wheel? 39, theshaft'20 and the card holder24 will be rotated in a step-by-step movement so as to bring each of thecard perforations P successively into alignment with the stud carrier'31and the spring carrier'38. v

Each rotation of the main drive shaft 42 will also rotate the cam I53 soas to push the arm I55 forwardly against the force ofthe spring- I 51,the latterserving toreturn-thearm I55 to its rearward position.Thiscauses' the arm I55 to oscillate so as to reciprocate the operatingslide I49 bymea'nsof the link I58, and the stud feed slide'I4I will alsoreciprocate'ibecause of its connection with the operating; slide I49 bymeans of the screw I5I'j and the filler "piece I52.

Thus, during each step in the movern ent of the cardholder 24, the studfeed'slide I4Iwill'recip rocate to bring a stu'd-D'from'apositien'beneath the stud magazine I It toa position in alignment withthe stud carrier sr-(Figs. Ligand-'10) it will be understoodthatfthestud escape inech anism I6I will operateto release one' of thestuds" D at a time sothat it will fall downwardly into position to bepicked up by the stud feed slide I4 I. The studescape mechanism I-6Iwill be slid .forwardly at each rearward movement of th'estud feed"slide I41, this being accbmplished byithe link'I'IB and the escapelever-"I11 which will-be engaged by theroller I80attach'ed't'to thereciprocating link I59. 'The'escape mechanism" I6I will be returned toits, rearwardtposition by'the spring I15.

' The'spring 'feedslidesI88 (Figs. 6, 9 anti-.215).

will be actuated from the" main: drive shaft :42 by thecam I9I' (Fig;1), the 'bell'crank lever I93,

and'the link I98, so as to operate'simultaneously. with the operation ofthe stud feed slide-MI" to bring a spring S from a position belowsthespring magazine III into a position in alignment with the spring carrier38. 'At' this-'time'the'rotation of the cams' 2I6', ZI'I, willpermitthe' followers 224, 225 on the bell crank levers 220,-22I to dropinto the initial portions of the cam recesses, thus acting through thelinks 232'; 233: and the bell crank levers 234, 235, topermit'the'springs 242,

243-to'move' the slides 203, 295 inwardly so as tinued rotation ofthecams 2I0, 2-I'I-will permit a further drop of the followers 224,225into the cam recesses under the influenceof the springs 242,243, andwill simultaneously bring the cam pieces 2 I8, 2 I9 into engagement withthe followers and close the stud and the spring upon the card C as shownin Fig. 12. However, it will be noted that the engagement of the campieces 2I8, 2I9, with-the followers228, 229, is of relatively shortduration, so that said cam pieces will merely serve to positivelyinitiate and accelerate the closing movement of the carriers 31, 38,which is completed solely by the springs 242, 243.

The engagement of the adjustable stop screw 250 with the pedestal 'I'!will limit inward movement of the spring carrier 58, and will determinethe 'preciselocationin which the spring Sand the stud D are "finallyclosed,'this location being follower 255 (Figs. 1 and 6) to drop,thuspermitting the spring 250 to act so that the strippers I48 and H101)will be swung downwardly so as to engage the carriers 31,-3 8, (Fig.'l2)thereby in-- suring' that neither the spring S nor the stud D willremain upon the carriers as they are withdrawnironithe closing position.h

"The 'str'ippers148 and I801) are provided because'a situation maysometimes occur wherein either the studcarrier Or the spring carrierwill fail tc'pick'up' a spring or a stud, either because the supply inone of the magazines is exhausted, or for some other reason. It will beseen that if one of the snap fastener sections were applied to thecardin the absence of the other snap fastener section, the first snapfastener section would not be retained upon the card, but would remainupon its carrier; This would result in jamming of the machine if thestrippers I48 and I?) were not provided to remove'the unass'embled snapfastener section from the carrier, and thus provide a clear'passage forthe next spring or stud to be fed by the feed mechanism. I

After a stud l) and a spring S have been closed upon the card CQ'thereby forming an assembled snap fastener F; the carriers 51, 38 willbe withdrawnby the action of the cams 2I6, 2| 1 upon the followers 224,225 in order to pickup the succeeding stud and spring, and the carrier24 will be rotated another step in order to bring another perforation Pinto position to receivea stud and teners, whereupon the clutch releasepin 94 will raise the cam 1105995 (Figs. 1 and 4) inorder to disengagethe rear end 88331? the lever 96 from the clutch trip rod I5, therebyreleasing the clutch arm 68 which will shift the bolt 65 and d'isengagethe clutch 62. Releasing of the clutch arm 68 will also bring thelateral abutment I5 thereon into the path of the head 61 of the bolt65'so that the drive shaft 42' will be brought to a positive stop.Simultaneously with raising of the cam nose 95, the cam projection93 onthe control disk 92 will engage the nose I I 5 of the bell-crank leverI05, thereby forcing the rear end of the bellcrank lever to the left asseen inFig. 1, so as to shift to the right the annular groove 3 in the,

hold the clamping plate 32 in engagement with the card C.

One advantage of the improved carding machine herein disclosed is thatit will rapidly and economically perform anoperation which hasheretofore been slow and expensive;-

Another advantage is that the machine'will require no attention on thepart of the operator excepting to insert the fresh cards, trip theclutch; and remove the filled cards. After a fresh card has beeninserted in the holder 24, it will merely be necessary for the operatorto trip the clutch, whereupon the machine will operate automatically toapply the, proper number of snap fasteners to the card, and then stop.

The operation of the machine is rapid, and it will be noted that thesteps 'of inserting and rexr ovingthe cards may--be expedited by-;inserting afresh card behind the filled cardand then removing thefilled card, so that the cards may be changed with a single motion ofthe operator's hand.

While there has been disclosed in this specification one form in whichthe invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that this form isshown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention isnot to be limited to the specific disclosure, but may be modified andembodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit; Inshort, the invention includes all the modifications and embodimentscoming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, andfor which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine for applying snap fasteners t cards, a card holder,means for closing a snap fastener upon a card in said card holderincluding a stud carrier and a spring carrier supported at oppositesides of said card holder, said carriers comprising means for supportinga stud and a spring, respectively, devices for feeding successive studsand springs to said stud carrier and said spring carrier, respectively,mechanism for moving said card holder rotatively to bring differentradially disposed portions of the card successively into positionbetween said stud carrier and said spring carrier, and means forcontinually operating said closing means, said feeding devices, and saidcard holder moving mechanism in periodic timed relation, whereby acircular series of snap fasteners will be applied to the card.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which said operating meansincludes a device for automatically stopping the machine after thecompletion of the application of the circular series of snap fastenersto the card, and a device for manually restoring said machine tooperation.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which said fastener closingmeans includes a pair of closing slides supporting said stud carrier andsaid spring carrier for closing and opening movement, a pair ofoperating springs providing a closing force upon said slides, and anadjustable stop for limiting the closing movement of one of said slides,whereby the fastener "springs and studs will be closed at apredetermined location in the machine.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1, 'ining a plate adapted to clampa card in said card holder, mechanism resiliently urging said plate toclamp said card, and means for withdrawing said plate fromsa'ic'i'cardafter a predetermined number of closing perations by said fastenerclosing means, whereby the card in said card.

holder maybe replaced by another card. 7

6. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which said stud and springfeeding devices include a stud magazine and a spring magazine supportedin positions ofiset from said stud carrier and.

said spring carrier, respectively, a stud slide for transferring thestuds from said stud magazine to said stud carrier, and a spring slidefor transferring the springs from said spring magazine to said springcarrier.

'7. In a machine for applying snap fasteners to cards, an elongated,horizontally disposed stud supporting carrier and an elongated, hori.

zontally disposed spring supporting carrier aligned therewith, means forreciprocating said carriers longitudinally to close a stud and a springon a card in a predetermined verticalplane in right-angular relationshipto the axes of said carriers, a holder for supporting a card in apredetermined lateral location between. said carriers in said plane, andmeans to apply the stud and the spring resiliently to said studsupporting carrier and said spring supporting carrier respectively priorto the closure on said card of the stud and the spring.

8. The invention as defined in claim '7, including devices for feedingsuccessive studs and springs to said stud carrier and said springcarrier, respectively, and means for imparting stepby-step rotation tosaid card holder, whereby a circular series of snap fasteners will beapplied to said card.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8, including means for operatingsaid carrier reciprocating means, said feeding devices, and said cardholder rotating means in timed relation, and a device for automaticallystopping said operating means when said card holder has made onecomplete revolution.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9, including a plate for clampingsaid card in said card holder, and a device for withdrawing said platefrom the card when the card holder has made one complete revolution.

11. In a machine for applying snap fasteners to cards, a pair of alignedcarriers comprising resilient means for frictionally holdingcomplementary fastener sections, a holder for supporting a card in apredetermined transverse plane between said carriers, means forsimultaneously reciprocating said carriers toward and away from eachother a predetermined number of times to close fastener sections carriedthereon upon a card in said holder, a stripper normally out of operativeengagement with one of said carriers, and means for holding said.

j being formed with aligned pairs of apertures equidistant from the axesof said shafts, whereby springs and studs may be applied to oppositefaces of the card.

13. In a machine for applyingsnap fasteners to cards, a horizontallydisposed, slidably mounted, elongated stud carrier, a horizontallydisposed, slidably mounted, elongated spring carrier, and means forsimultaneously reciprocating said carriers horizontally toward eachother a predetermined number of times for closing springs and studscarried thereby, said stud carrier comprising an annular end surface anda fixed resilient mandrel extending outwardly of said surface andadapted to enter the back of a stud to frictionally hold the same priorto its closure ona spring. 7 I

14. In a machine for applying snap fasteners to cards, a horizontallydisposed, slidably mounted, elongated stud carrier, a horizontallydisposed, slidably mounted, elongated spring carrier, and means forsimultaneously reciprocating said carriers horizontally toward eachother a predetermined number of times for closing springs and studscarried thereby, said spring carrier comprising an annular end portionand a fixed resilient chuck secured centrally in'said end portion andadapted to embrace a portion 16 of ,a spring to' frictionally hold toits closure on a studs 15. In. a -machine for applying snap fasteners vto cards, a stud feed comprising a bar having a horizontal stud channel,an entrance channel intersecting said stud channel: from above, and astud feed slide in said stud channel,.-said slide. having a notched.endportion of reduced thickness, for;v engaging the central projection.ofqa

stud, and said slide further having an upper edge portion of reducedthickness rearward of and communicating withsaid notched endportion forsupporting a stud; and means for reciproeating said feed slide in saidstud channel whereby a stud in said entrance channel and supported uponthe upper edge portion of said slide will drop into the stud channel,and said notched end will feed said stud along the stud channel.

LM AXKIESSLING.

EF RENCE CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

550,605 France Dec, 19, 1922 the same prior 2' Certificate 2,:Correction Patent No. 2,575,019 November 13, 195! MAX KIESSLING It ishereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of theabove numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

- Column 14, line 11, for stripers reed strippers; line 19, forperations read operations;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, sothat the same may conform to the record of thjcase in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of February, A. D. 1952.

'rnoms F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommiasioner of Pain.

